The success of any organisation depends on its leaders. With the changing dynamics and compositions of our workforces, our leaders have evolved their leading styles. As they take control over their associates, they make sure they gel and manage them closely behavior.

In an exclusive interview with TimesJobs, Ismail Khan, Senior Vice President - Operations, NestAway Technologies Pvt. Ltd spilled the beans of his leadership style, unveiling his mantra for succession as a leader.

What kind of leadership style do you follow?I follow a very open leadership style. It is important to me that my team is communicating without any barriers both among themselves and with me. I firmly believe that a team that’s talking is a sure sign of healthy leadership. I try to be approachable and take decisions quickly and with a sense of ownership. This is something I encourage my team to do as well.

Do you think the culture of dynastic leadership is still viable in present times?While it is a controversial stand to take, I’m of the opinion that dynastic leadership could work in some contexts but not all. That is in fact true of every form of leadership. There is no ‘one size fits all’ system. In contexts where the organisation has grown on very specific ideals, one that is perhaps not relevant to the larger workforce, dynastic leadership might be able to help the organisation stay true to its path. That being said, I do believe that power should rest in the hands of those who can wield it. Not everyone has the specific leadership qualities that fit an organisation. The style or culture of leadership pursued should be based on what’s likely to fit the organisation’s needs best.

What are the challenges you find difficult to deal with at your position?One of the main challenges that I face is to create the right expectations from our consumers. We’re a disruptor in the market and that often means misunderstood in terms of the services we offer. Very often tenants expect us to provide food, or housekeepers and we have to step in and explain to them that these are not services we undertake. Heading operations has meant training my team to create the right expectations in a manner that does not turn away our customers but also doesn’t leave them disappointed.

For me it’s a challenge to ensure that each team member feels respected and valued. We have grown up in a society that is closed off, which doesn’t talk about a lot of issues and to grow past that and help my team grow past that is a challenge, but one which I absolutely enjoy.

How has leadership evolved within these years?Leadership has come a long way in the last few years. Leaders are now expected to grow and adapt to the ever-advancing technologies and help build teams that are aligned with the organization’s values globally. Apart from this, leaders are now expected to create an environment that is open, adaptive and innovative. Flat organisational structures are now being increasingly accepted by corporates all over thus creating an environment of growth and opportunities and encouraging creativity.

One major challenge you face while managing the millennial workforce.A major challenge we face while managing the millennial workforce is the high attrition rate. Millennials are always looking for opportunities that are exciting and bring more value to their learnings. Millennials are the ‘future of workforce’ with statistics showing that millennials will form over 50% of the workforce employed by 2020. It is important to introduce processes that help make millennials feel valued in the company while providing them with opportunities for growth and learning. Companies should have proper onboarding and training sessions with new employees to induct them about the company’s values & vision and to comfortably integrate them into its culture.

What are the emerging trends in the leadership space?One emerging trend in work spaces today is teams becoming more collaborative and cross-functional. This has meant increased flexibility and openness for leaders. Digital transformation has redefined what competencies are expected from senior leadership. Leaders have to be ready to deal with the ambiguous nature of today’s industries, and thus it is important that leaders are resilient and are ready to adapt. In such cases, it is important for leaders to take action and lead their teams through the ever-changing industries.